Power cut causes chaos at aquatic centre

As a tornado tore its way through New Plymouth, power was cut to the city’s main swimming pool leaving it pitch black with terrified children screaming and trying to get out of the water.

The Todd Energy Aquatic Centre, which sits on the New Plymouth waterfront, was struck by a power cut around 5.30pm on Monday. This was around the same time a tornado hit central New Plymouth and caused minor damage to around 20 homes and major damage to 11. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries and the staff involved have been praised for their management of the situation.

When the power cut hit, Taranaki school teacher Moana Cotton was in the aquatic centre spa with his partner while their four children played in other pools.

‘‘It just went black, it was crazy,’’ Cotton said. ‘‘We were just trying to round up all the kids. But at the same time everyone else’s kids were screaming the roof off as well so it was pretty hectic.’’

Cotton became instantly concerned for his six-year-old son who had been playing in the children’s area of the main pool.

Cotton said he expected a back-up generator to at least flick some lights on, but there was ‘‘nothing’’. Therefore he, and many other parents, resorted to using their phone flash lights to find their children.

‘‘Meanwhile lifeguards were running around frantically to get everyone to evacuate the pool.’’

Cotton said children were scared and their screams were ‘‘high pitched, to say the least’’. There were swimming classes on at the time too which he said included young primary school children. Despite the children’s stress, Cotton thought the aquatic centre staff dealt with the power cut well. ‘‘Considering the situation it was pretty well handled.’’

New Plymouth District Council external relations manager Jacqueline Baker said in an emailed statement an ‘‘emergency response plan’’ was activated on Monday evening.

‘‘Our staff are aware such incidents can cause concern and we stayed with kids who had been at swimming training until their parents picked them up,’’ Baker said. ‘‘Feedback on the TEAC Facebook page has been really positive, with some praising the ‘awesome staff’ for their efforts last night.’’

Baker said the centre has torches at five locations at the aquatic centre and ‘‘these were found as quickly as possible’’.